Fmr. Hennepin Co. Sheriff Dave Hutchinson gets previous police job back, with more pay
UPDATE (April 6): Dave Hutchinson, former Hennepin County sheriff, fired by Metro Transit police after regaining job
MINNEAPOLIS – The controversial former top cop of Hennepin County is now collecting a paycheck from a different department.
Dave Hutchinson was reinstated to his prior job with Metro Transit Police, and not everyone's happy about it.
Before he was elected sheriff in 2018, Hutchinson was a sergeant with MTPD. WCCO has learned that a state statute forced the department to give him that same job back once his term ended.
That statute also gives Hutchinson raises as if he never left, bumping his salary by about $20,000 – to nearly $115,000 a year.
Hutchinson went on indefinite leave from the sheriff's office last May after a drunk driving crash in December 2021, and spent much of 2022 on medical leave, while still collecting a paycheck.
And then there was a scathing internal report last month that found he "engaged in racist, sexist, bullying, and retaliatory behavior" at work, leading to his censure by the Hennepin County Board.
Earlier this month, Hutchinson applied and was rehired by the Met Council, returning to his Metro Transit police sergeant job. The state statute that led to his rehiring reads: "On the completion of the final day of the term to which the official was elected, the officer or employee shall be reinstated in the public position held at the time of entry into the legislature or taking city, county, or tribal council office."
The law also requires pay at the same rate as if the employee never left.
He's now under investigation again -- this time by the Met Council. A spokesperson gave this statement to WCCO Tuesday evening: "Since Mr. Hutchinson's reinstatement, a formal complaint has been filed. The Met Council takes this complaint very seriously and has begun a full investigation into the allegations."
The Met Council would not give us any specifics about their new investigation into the former sheriff.
At the moment, Hutchinson is on leave, continuing to collect his new paycheck. Met Council sources say they are furious they had to rehire him.
An attorney for Hutchinson told WCCO he would have no comment.
Late Wednesday evening, Minnesota State Sen. Warren Limmer says he is trying to get that statute repealed.
MORE: Sheriff Hutchinson Agrees To Pay Hennepin County $47K For Squad Vehicle Wrecked In DWI Crash